Holiday to spain anxiety

[Tiredtweenmum]

We have been saving hard to go on a holiday abroad for the first time in 15 years. It is our DC first holiday abroad. Because of the time it’s taken to save and the fact it is their first foreign holiday I’m getting really panicky about it 🙄
passports are new, everything is booked but I wake up most nights in a panic thinking I have forgotten something.
We also haven’t been abroad in so long that I feel like I’ve forgotten how to ‘do’ it!! what are things that I may have forgotten I need to do or bring for flying and going to Spain?!

I know this sounds silly!

An actual credit card. I know that Brits like to do everything on their phones now, but phones die, get lost, get stolen.

Thank you. My spelling is absolutely dreadful. I once apologized for any incontinence I may cause in an email to the whole office. Spell check helps but sometimes I am completely word blind

@CornOfCopia

Everyone should have at least 6 months on their passports (presumably you all have new ones so no issue there)

3 months is all that’s required for travel in the Schengen area ( EU countries )

Yes, this. Don’t forget to do this or to get travel insurance. It will be fine.

More of a travel tip than anything but I take a three plug extension in my case and so then only need one travel adapter. Can charge two phones and have the hair dryer plugged in at same time!
Obviously unplug when not in use.

Spanish pharmacists are excellent for minor medical issues eg infected looking mosquito bites, childhood rashes etc. Many speak excellent English if your Spanish isn’t good in this area and if not, a google English to Spanish on your phone does the job!

another tip. If you haven’t already, download the google translate app.

Obviously great for when you need to talk to someone (type in and it translates) but also in the app, press the camera button and show your phone any writing and it translates it on the screen. Brilliant for when in supermarkets trying to read labels or for menus that are in Spanish. Helps you learn some of the language too!

Have a checklist on your phone for leaving the house so you make sure you leave with everything you need, even if it's super early and you're half asleep, I always do this. Usually includes things like;

• jackets
• charging cables
• toothbrushes
• wallets/purses (we did get to airport once and found DH didn't have his wallet, this was pre phone payments tho)
• phones
• passports
• [plus any miscellaneous kids stuff - mine are teens now, so fortunately that's in the past for me]

It's a big help because you put it together while fully conscious and can feel assured in the morning you've got everything as you tick it off.

It’s not silly.

I had the worst panic attack the morning of my flight overseas. I was physically shaking. It was freezing when we had to wake up early and I initially thought I was just shivering from the cold but it turned out I was having a panic attack.

I took some Valium and ordered a G&T at the airport. It barely took the edge off. I was find after we landed but just utterly exhausted. I hate flying. I hate being in close proximity to other people on a plane. I hate airports. By the second day of the holiday I wanted to go home and sleep in my own bed.

Go and see your GP for some Valium.

I ignored the tone in her message.

The job I do means I am regularly threatened, called names, spat at, physically assaulted and sometimes I’ve been followed home. I have a very thick skin. Which is why this worry about a holiday seems so ridiculous!

Passports
some euros
PIN numbers for bank cards.
plug adapter
insurance
leave holiday details and copies of passsports with someone
everything can be sorted while there I think

Have a great time!

This

Rmember you can only take 100ml little bottles of liquids in your hand luggage

I’d be super on top of their hand washing and hygiene particularly on/after the plane out as you don’t want to catch noro and ruin the whole thing! Take hand sanitiser and wipes.

Check Phone data is free abroad or buy a bundle. Check your credit card is fee free abroad. Get Travel insurance. Check you’ve got a luggage allowance included as lots are now just hand luggage. Have plug adaptors. I take paracetamol as they’re hassle to buy. And sun cream is more in Spain and bite cream so I take those. Anything else just buy if you need it. And don’t underestimate the power of the sun! Have a fab time

Write a checklist and tick it off as you pack. Put all of your flight documents together in a see through ziplock bag. Buy sunscreen in uk..theyre not as good abroad. Remember medication/paracetamol and Gaviscon/Imodium

Love this ! Also going abroad for a holiday soon after some time so this is really useful. 😍

uk airports are currently rolling out the new scanners such that you can leave liquids ( any amount I think ) and electronics in your carry on luggage.

Yy take some paracetamol and ibuprofen. More hassle to buy in Spain.

Every time we go abroad we take a travel adapter that’s a multi regional one which has been one of our best ever purchases, you slide out the relevant bit such as US or EU and the right prongs for the relevant country come out. Also has USB and USBC ports. I would suggest taking an extension lead so you can charge multiple items at once.

check hair straighteners, mine come with an EU plug inside the uk one

travel insurance - if you don’t have this yet, do it now!!

GHIC cards are also a must

I always pack a first aid kit with painkillers, plasters, antihistamines, burn cream, blister patches

if you’re going somewhere with a bar and a beach, you can buy foldable cup holders that hold 4 plastic cups each. Godsend for getting multiple drinks in one go, had everyone asking me where I bought them on our last trip

And if you are coeliac, gluten free foods are available in all supermarkets and every restaurant we've been to has been great at making sure your dinner is gluten free. We often go to Fuerta Ventura and absolutely love it!

Check how you are going to pay for things. Virtually everywhere takes card payments. You will get extra charges for most credit cards, if you have the money in the bank, take a small amount in Euros, for tips and buses, and get an account with a bank that has a no charge debit card , such as Starling. When you use the card to pay, always choose to pay in Euros,not pounds, you will get a better exchange rate. We used to take an extension lead with 4 plug sockets, so we could plug it in with one adapter and then charge up 4 devices on it. Now we do virtually everything on our phones, we just take 2 adapters. We find powerbanks really useful. Charge overnight, and then use in the day when out and about for keeping your phone topped up. Google Maps is really useful. If you want to catch a bus, it shows all the bus stops. Touch the bus stops and the times pop up. On maps, search for the bus number and route, and it shows you where the bus goes, so you can see where to get off.

This one

I like to have a wander around the area on Google maps before I get there - have a look at the road the accommodation is on, what’s in the area etc.
We found a Lidl near our hotel this year on google maps so didn’t take shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, deodorant, razors or suntan lotion with us. Just stocked up when we got there and travelled light instead.
Also always take a travel wash liquid so I can refresh clothes half way through the week to reduce the amount I take. Less stuff = less worrying for me.

Generally, 2 hours for short haul, 3 hours for long haul.

Have a great time!!